MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2001 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

Present :

Mr D J Knowles (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Coburn, Mr M J Cunningham (deputising for Mr R A Sutton), Mrs B E Foster, Mrs M J Lloyd (deputising for Mr C B W Chapman), Mr V J Morey, Mr A J Mundy (deputising for Mr B E Abraham), Mr I R Stephens, Mr A A Taylor

Apologies :

Mr B E Abraham, Mr C B W Chapman, Mrs M J Miller, Mr R A Sutton, Mrs J L Wareham, Mrs J White

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr E Fox, Mr R G Mazillius

9. MINUTES

RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2001 be confirmed.

10. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Interests were declared in the following :
Mr J R Adams, Mrs M J Lloyd and Mr A J Mundy declared an interest in Minute 15 - Hackney Carriage Working Party.

11. URGENT BUSINESS

The Chairman agreed to an item of urgent business as it was necessary to make arrangements before the next meeting. He advised members that an invitation had been issued from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Deputy Chief Constable for members of the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee to visit the Netley and Winchester call centres. Members felt that a visit to both facilities would be beneficial.
RESOLVED :
THAT a visit to Netley and Winchester be arranged.

12. UPDATE ON BEST VALUE CROSS-CUTTING REVIEW - PROMOTING A SAFE SOCIETY

The Head of Paid Service updated members on the cross-cutting Review 'Promoting a Safe Society'.
The Select Committee was advised that the Best Value Inspection Service had visited the Island to carry out a full inspection of the review. This was concluded on the final day with an Interim Challenge presentation to members and officers. A response was drawn up and submitted to the Best Value Inspectorate who subsequently advised that they had retrospectively re-classified their inspection of the review as a Desktop inspection.
Members discussed various items from the review including security within County Hall, community safety, incidence of recorded crime, the role parents play in responsibility for their children's behaviour and anti social behaviour. It was proposed that a possible by-law preventing drinking in streets could be investigated and a discussion on this could be had with the police when members visited Netley and Winchester.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the report be noted.
(ii) THAT a discussion be held with the police as to the possibility of introducing a by-law preventing drinking in the streets.

13. REPORT OF THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER

(a) Emergency Planning's Best Value Review - A Progress Report and Financial Implications for 2002 Onwards
Members were advised of the progress made on Emergency Planning's Best Value Review. A bid for funding the employment of a Training Officer together with on costs was already part of the budget process for 2002.
RESOLVED :
THAT the progress made in the preparation of Emergency Planning's Best Value Report be acknowledged and the financial implication be noted.
(b) Best Value Procurement Review
The Chief Fire Officer updated members on budgetary issues resulting from the Best Value Procurement Review for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
Particular mention was made to the replacement of Personal Protection Equipment for firefighters and three alternative methods of procuring this were outlined. Members were advised that safeguards would be taken on how any contract was structured if equipment was to be leased from a specialist company. Also highlighted was the review of Occupational Health within the Brigade and ICT for procurement.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
(c) Fire Service Resources
The Chief Fire Officer reminded members that a verbal report on a meeting with HMI Currie was made at the September meeting of the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee that as a result of a request from the Select Committee the Chief Fire Officer had submitted a paper to the October meeting that had discussed the way forward for the Brigade.
The paper considered at this meeting identified the Brigade's resource needs in terms of ICT and Staffing. The Chief Fire Officer reported that discussions had been held with the Councils IT Manager with regard to installing outlook links to Ryde Fire Station and the Brigade Training Centre and Newport Fire Station and Control. It was anticipated that installation would take place by the end of December 2001 for Newport and the end of January 2002 for Ryde. The Chief Fire Officer undertook to report to the January 2002 Select Committee regarding the costings and the timetable for the Brigade's other ICT requirements.
To ensure outcomes for the statutory provision of an efficient fire service the Brigade would be restructured into 5 key areas of responsibility : Performance Management, Operations Management, Safety and Risk Management, Human Resources Management and Support Services Management. The Chief Fire Officer outlined the changes that would improve the service, 2 x day duty enforcement officers and an increase in a flexi-duty system and an increase in the number of leading firefighters and the resource implications connected with these and other staff changes.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the Executive be recommended that additional resources amounting to �131,108 be allocated to the Fire Service in respect of staff resources so that the Chief Fire Officer's managerial structure can be fully implemented.
(ii) THAT the Chief Fire Officer report back to the Select Committee in January regarding progress on ICT.
(d) Best Value Review of Communications and Control Planned Improvements
The Select Committee was updated on the progress of the Best Value Review and the comprehensive action plan that had compiled. The Chief Fire Officer advised members that funding of �35,000 had been secured from the Invest to Save Budget to provide for items identified in the Improvement Plan. Areas of reference had been divided between senior control officers and work done to date was reported.
RESOLVED :
THAT the detail of the action plan and the action taken so far be endorsed.
(e) Community Fire Safety Best Value Review - Interim Progress Report
A Best Value Working Group had been set up and had met on several occasions and consideration was being given to budgetary implications.
RESOLVED :
THAT progress of the Community Fire Safety year 2, Best Value Review be noted.

14. SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY INTO MEASURES TAKEN LOCALLY IN RESPECT OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE PREVENTION

The Strategic Director of Finance and Information told the Select Committee that the Executive had requested a review of measures taken locally in relation to Foot and Mouth disease. Members felt that a full report should be brought back to the Select Committee at a later date.
RESOLVED :
THAT an extra meeting of the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee be arranged to cover measures taken locally in relation to Foot and Mouth disease.

15. HACKNEY CARRIAGE WORKING PARTY

(Mr J R Adams, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr A J Mundy and Mr A C Coburn declared an interest in this item).
The Head of Select Committee Support informed members that a meeting of the Hackney Carriage Working Party had been arranged for 6 December 2001. Members of the Select Committee asked that a report be brought back as soon as possible.
RESOLVED :
THAT a further report be brought back to the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee on behalf of the Hackney Carriage Working Party as soon as possible.

CHAIRMAN